Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 21 November 2020

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Revelation 6:5

Now, the focus goes from the red horse and its rider to the scroll as John says, “When He opened the third seal.” More judgment can be anticipated. The world rejected the offering of God in Christ, and now – for a third time – a form of judgment will be unleashed. Following the pattern already set, John says, “I heard the third living creature.” This would be the one resembling a man (verse 4:7). He speaks forth, “Come and see.”

Like the previous two seals, manuscripts vary here. Rather than, “Come and see,” as if a command to John, other manuscripts simply say, “Come.” This would be a calling forth of the entity held by the seal. This appears to be the more likely translation, it is a call for the entity to come forth, and thus to go out, like with the first two seals. With the call, John’s attention is redirected – “So I looked, and behold, a black horse.”

Black. It is the color of famine and of mourning. For example –

“For this shall the earth mourn,
And the heavens above be black,
Because I have spoken.
I have purposed and will not relent,
Nor will I turn back from it.” Jeremiah 4:28

“Her Nazirites were brighter than snow
And whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Like sapphire in their appearance.
⁸ Now their appearance is blacker than soot;
They go unrecognized in the streets;
Their skin clings to their bones,
It has become as dry as wood.” Lamentations 4:7, 8

“You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners [literally: blackly]
Before the Lord of hosts?’” Malachi 3:14

These, and other examples, give us a Scriptural view of what this black horse portrays. With this understanding, John says, “and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.” Of the scales, Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “Properly, anything which joins two bodies; hence a yoke (Matthew 11:29; Acts 15:10). The cross-beam of the loom, to which the warp was fixed; the thwarts joining the opposite sides of a ship; the beam of the balance, and hence the balance itself. The judgment of this seal is scarcity, of which the balance is a symbol, representing the time when food is doled out by weight.”

An example of this is found in Leviticus 26:26 –

“When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.”

Another in Ezekiel 4:16, 17 –

 ^“Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, ¹⁷ that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity.’”

This weighing out of food, however, may extend beyond simple famine to the abuse of what is readily available. In other words, extorting wealth from others so that they can simply survive. This is seen in Hosea –

“A cunning Canaanite!
Deceitful scales are in his hand;
He loves to oppress.” Hosea 12:7

In the end, deprivation awaits those who enter the tribulation period. It will be a terrible time on earth. Following on from the quotation from Lamentations above, Jeremiah notes the horrifying state of dying of famine –

“Those slain by the sword are better off
Than those who die of hunger;
For these pine away,
Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.
¹⁰ The hands of the compassionate women
Have cooked their own children;
They became food for them
In the destruction of the daughter of my people.” Lamentations 4:9, 10

Life application: The third horse is let loose. The first horse was white and carried a rider with a bow who went out conquering and to conquer. The second horse was red, and it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth through war. Now come famine and hunger – a result of the first two horses. If you see the logical progression, the entire world is following the same path that Nazi Germany went down and the same path that many other countries have gone down.

They started with a leader who supposedly could conquer and provide peace (the white horse), but he instead brought war (the red horse) and its result was famine and suffering (the black horse). These will be followed by one more, but before that one arrives, there is going to be the time of rationing which is symbolized by the scales.

Because the rationed food won’t be enough to satisfy, people will secretly hide anything they can eat even from their own family. The horrendous consequences of rejecting God will result in what is now unimaginable.

Deuteronomy 28:56, 57 shows us the level that humans will sink to when the food runs out. The terrifying words read – “The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter, ⁵⁷ her placenta which comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.”

Such is the state that the entire world will be reduced to in the years ahead. This type of situation will fill the world because of our rejection of the love of God in Jesus so that we can do things our own way. Reject that avenue now and call on Jesus before the time of horror described here comes upon the entire world.

Lord, it is overwhelming to consider what the Bible presents concerning the horrors of the tribulation period. Man will turn to the lowest levels of existence and the greatest levels of depravity on a global scale.  It is hard to even comprehend that during times of abundance and prosperity. But we know it is coming. You are righteous in Your judgments because we have left You out of our lives. In wrath remember mercy, O God. Amen.

Friday, 20 November 2020

Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Revelation 6:4

With the loosing of the second seal, John sees “Another horse, fiery red.” Only one word is translated as “fiery red,” but it is appropriate. The Greek word is purrhos, coming from pur – fire, or firelike. It is as if the horse is burning as it “went out.” The directive to proceed was given, and the horse is loosed to begin the execution of the judgment.

The color being fiery red is overwhelmingly agreed upon to signify war, just as the planet Mars, the red planet, is a symbol of war. This probably isn’t coincidence as even from the first chapter of the Bible, the heavenly objects are meant “for signs and for seasons.” Planets and constellations are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible in this way. Confirming the meaning of the color, John next says, “And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth.”

The Greek has an important definite article before peace. It reads, “the peace.” Of this, Cambridge says, “…according to Greek usage may mean merely ‘peace in general, peace in the abstract,’ but may also very well stand for ‘the peace’ which the conquests of the previous Rider have left as their fruit.”

This is a correct analysis, but it is based on a faulty premise. They (and many others) have equated the first horse and rider to Christ and the peace He brought on the earth. As shown in the Superior Word commentary of that verse, such a notion is wholly incorrect. The white horse and rider are symbols of judgment on an unrepentant world, occurring during the Tribulation period.

What the words, “the peace,” are referring to would be the state of hopeful peace that comes with the signing of the seven-year peace deal between the antichrist and Israel. At the time, the whole world will anticipate peace, but the deal will only be a precursor to the unleashing of hell on earth.

Using the peace deal as a pretext, the white horse and rider will go forth conquering and to conquer. This will be followed by the red horse and rider who will take “the peace,” meaning the state of peace anticipated by the supposed healing of this long sore wound on the earth, and they will do exactly the opposite. In this state, John next says, “and that people should kill one another.”

The books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel repeat the same general idea four times where they indicate a state of peace is called out by the populace when it is a lie. For example –

“Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar— ¹¹ say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall.” Ezekiel 13:10, 11

Such references speak of a state of anticipated worldly peace when the Lord is not included in the picture. Without His approval of the conduct of the people, there can be no peace. For reference, see also Jeremiah 6:14 & 8:11 and Ezekiel 13:16. Those Old Testament references are then paralleled by the greatest state of false peace to come upon the world. This is spoken of by Paul in 1 Thessalonians –

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

This is “the peace” that is being referred to specifically in Revelation now. It is a false peace that has been proclaimed by the world because of the workings of the antichrist. In this, the fiery red horse is emblematic of the war that will come because of this false state of peace. The one sitting on the horse will take the opportunity to bring about destruction and many will be killed. Of this, John finishes the verse with, “and there was given to him a great sword.”

Here, the sword is a machaira. It signifies a slaughter-knife. It is a short sword or dagger, the purpose of which is stabbing. Thus, it carries with it the figurative meaning of being an instrument used for exacting retribution. An Old Testament passage that gives the sense of this is –

“When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out. ⁹ Then Joab said to Amasa, ‘Are you in health, my brother?’ And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰ But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died.” 2 Samuel 20:8-10

This would have been a short sword, small enough to conceal from the eyes of Amasa until it was too late. Unlike the sword in this troubling account, Revelation describes this machaira, or slaughter-knife, as megalē, meaning “great.”

The rider on the horse will not conceal his intent for slaughter. Rather, he will go forth throughout the earth with great slaughter with his great sword. This is seen in the word translated as “kill.” It is sphaxousin, and it means “to kill by violence,” rather than by means of war. War will come, but following after that, the world will devolve into a place of chaos and mayhem.

Murderous bands of thugs will prevail over the weaker, and then they themselves will slaughter each other. In other words, the whole world will devolve into lawlessness, civil war, tribal hatred, ethnic cleansing, and etc. There will be few left when the seven years of tribulation are over. What was anticipated as a time of “peace and safety” will turn out to be a time of bloody slaughter.

Life application: As noted, this second horseman is symbolic of war. The symbolism is given, and the general outline of what is coming is relayed in Revelation, including the parallel of this red horse and rider to the red planet, Mars. However, we should not make the error that we can either predict the future by astrology, nor should we look to them for divine guidance. Instead, we have the pages of the Bible to tell us the meaning of heavenly occurrences. Astrology is an ungodly pursuit that should never be pursued.

Rather, the Bible gives a broad and yet detailed picture for us to know what lies ahead. This horse and rider being granted to take peace from the earth are coming after the rapture as is revealed in 2 Thessalonians 1-12. Specifically, verse 7 says this – “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”

The world is already filled with war and lawlessness, but it is restrained by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Were it not for this presence, the world would have already come to its end. But when the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence through the church is removed, the world will be left to do things on its own.

How do we know this is after the rapture? It is because believers are already “sealed” with the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13, 14. If the Holy Spirit is removed (meaning the presence of the Spirit in the workings of the church), then the believers must be removed too because the Holy Spirit is a “guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14). Once this occurs, mayhem will ensure.

Now is the time to call on Jesus. Those who do will be taken out before that time of trouble comes. The Lord has shown us these things, in advance, because He is loving and gracious. His offer of peace stands. For those who reject it, terrible times await.

Lord God, we look around and see the world in chaos and distress, and yet we know that it could be so much worse. Thank You for Your calming Holy Spirit upon the nations. Thank You for Your patience with the unruly sons of man. Help us to be lights to Your goodness during our walk here – to Your honor and glory. Amen.

Thursday, 19 November 2020

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Revelation 6:3

The focus goes now from the white horse and its rider to the scroll saying, “When He opened the second seal.” The breaking of the seals allows for judgment upon an unrepentant world, and so that is what can be anticipated again with the breaking of this seal. Understanding this, John says, “I heard the second living creature.” This would be the one resembling a calf (verse 4:7). He speaks forth, “Come and see.”

Like the previous seal, manuscripts vary here. Rather than, “Come and see,” as if a command to John, other manuscripts simply say, “Come.” This would be a calling forth of the entity held by the seal. If this is correct, and it appears to be the more likely translation, it is a call for the entity to come forth, and thus to go out, like with the first seal.

Life application: The living creatures around the throne are named in the same order as the gospels, and they are calling out in the same order as the gospels. What is revealed in the four gospel accounts is the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

For those who accepted the message before this time of tribulation, pardon of sins has been granted, and eternal life has been given. They were taken at the rapture, escaping the things to come. But now, those same gospels that were rejected by the remaining people on earth, testify against them. The living creatures are calling out the destroyers, one by one, who will bring judgment on the earth to those who are left behind to endure the tribulation.

There is an order to all things, and God displays His divine order in the Bible. It is consistent and it is verifiable. Because of this, His judgments also follow His divine order. We need to carefully handle the gift He has given us in the pages of the Bible. They demonstrate the great wisdom of our Creator and they show His plan for us. Let us take heed to the words given.

Thank You Heavenly Father for the great book You have revealed to us – the Holy Bible. It is one of comfort, of wisdom, of joy, and of blessing, if we handle it properly. Help us to do so, and also give us the wisdom to study it and love it all the days You have set before us. Amen.

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:2

Verse 6:1 saw the opening of the first seals and the voice like thunder calling out. The response to that leads to John’s words, saying, “And I looked.” This signifies a new part of the vision. His attention is directed away from the living creature and to what has been called forth by it. With that accomplished, he says, “and behold, a white horse.”

Here we have two separate emblems to consider. The horse in Hebrew is the word sus. It also means a swallow (the bird) and swiftness. One can see the similarity between the two as a horse darts and leaps around swiftly like a swallow in the air does. The horse is used at various times to signify battle or war. Two of the many such examples are –

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

&

“He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
²⁵ At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.” Job 39:24, 25

Psalm 147:10 shows that a secondary aspect of the horse is that of strength. Taken together, one sees that this is a symbol of strength in battle.

The color white signifies purity, innocence, righteousness, and the like. That has already been seen in verses 3:4 & 5, and elsewhere. It was also the color of royalty at John’s time. The commanding officer would ride a white horse. That continued throughout history. With this understood, John next says, “He who sat on it had a bow.” The bow is an implement used in hunting, in battle, and so on. As it is held by one on a horse, it is here reflective of an instrument of war.

At times, commentaries make a to-do about there being no arrow mentioned. The reason for this is to justify their position that this rider is Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who has a bow but no arrow. This is an argument from silence. First, a bowman implies a man who will use a bow. Further, a bowman without an arrow would be a rather dull person. Going into a battle with a gun and no bullets makes as much sense as a tennis puck. Secondly, time and again in Scripture, the bow is mentioned without noting arrows with it, such as –

“I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow.” Joshua 24:12

Having a bow implies having arrows. The bow stands as representative of the weapon, just as having a machine gun implies having the capability to fire bullets. John next says, “and a crown was given to him.”

The stephanos, or “crown,” is a symbol of royalty, honor, and victory. Christ wore such a crown of thorns in His crucifixion. He the victorious King. The gospels mention the crowns of rejoicing, righteousness, life, and glory. Each is a symbol of honor. The twenty-four elders of Revelation have such crowns of royal heavenly governance. Thus, such symbolism is seen here as well – royalty, honor, and victory. Of this rider, John next says, “and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

Of this, Albert Barnes says, “John saw in him two things: one, that he had the aspect or port of a conqueror – that is, of one who had been accustomed to conquest, and who was confident that he could conquer; the [o]ther was, that this was clearly the design for which he went forth, and this would be the result of his going forth.”

This is correct. The horseman is summoned forth to wage war, to do so under the guise of purity and royal authority, and who anticipates victory.

To understand the symbolism further, the vision of Zechariah and four horses should be reviewed. That ancient symbolism is being brought forth again in Revelation. In Zechariah 1, four variously colored horses were sent throughout the earth as it rested quietly. These were followed by four horns (symbols of power and strength) that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

They were followed by four craftsmen. Of these, it said –

“These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.” Zechariah 1:20

The four horses are jointly sent on a mission, just as the four horses of Revelation are sent. They have a unified purpose. Understanding this, the symbolism of this rider on the white horse is identified by scholars in various ways – he is Jesus, he is the church, he is the antichrist, he signifies the Roman empire of ages past, and so on. As this rider is united with the other three coming horses, it is not Jesus.

Jesus will return on a white horse after the tribulation period. It is not the church; they are already taken out at the rapture. He is not the Roman empire of ages past. However, he is associated with Rome, in that he is the coming antichrist. In Daniel 9:27, it says of the coming antichrist –

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

This coming person is described further in Daniel and elsewhere. He will be a man of war, but he will also supposedly bring peace as a great ruler. Being antichrist, he will be the hope and expectation of what the world anticipates of the Prince of Peace, but He is actually the one to lead them away from any peace at all.

To read an almost astonishingly detailed analysis of all of the aspects of the symbolism of this verse, one can refer to the commentary on it by Albert Barnes at this link – https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/revelation-6.html. He does a great job with the symbolism, and he gives countless references to support his analysis. However, his final conclusion is incorrect. He identifies it as the old Roman empire.

The problem with this is that it fails to take into consideration the idea of dispensations. The tribulation period, now being described in Revelation, occurs after the church age, not during it. His conclusion is correct to a point (that Rome is involved), but he could not foresee Rome being revived as a power. He thus inserted the past, not the future, into his analysis. Despite this, the analysis is excellent.

This rider on the white horse is not Jesus, but the false Christ who will come prior to the return of Jesus. The breaking of the first seal is not to bring peace to the earth, but judgment on the earth. This rider is going forth to make war. Along with him, three other terrifying riders will come forth as well.

Life application: This rider has been given authority to do his work during the time of the tribulation period. Eight more times in the coming chapters, the term “was given” is used to indicate an allowance of evil power, so the argument cannot be made that this is Jesus from that term. The term “anti” when applied to the antichrist means “instead of.” And this is certainly what is expected during the tribulation period based on the figure mentioned in Daniel 9:26 – “the prince that shall come.”

This prince is anticipated to come in the final seven-year period mentioned in Daniel’s vision, and that seven-year period is still future; it is the tribulation period of Revelation. The figure in this verse then is this coming antichrist – going out conquering and to conquer.

To avoid being here when he arrives on the scene, be sure to call out for Jesus now. In believing in His gospel, you will be saved. When the rapture occurs, you will be taken from the world before this terrible time comes.

The timeline is set by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 –

1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you:
   not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter,

2. as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
   [warning] Let no one deceive you by any means;

    2a for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition

The “falling away” and the “man of sin” being revealed is being stated based on “the day of Christ,” not “our gathering together to Him.”

In other words, the rapture will occur. Only then will the antichrist be revealed who will sign the seven-year peace deal with Israel. During that seven years, he will fulfill the symbolism of this rider on the white horse. We are not to look for the antichrist. Rather we are to have our eyes fixed on JESUS.

Lord, the best part about reading Your word is to know that we know we are already safe in You. The antichrist who is coming has no authority over us because we are Yours! Hallelujah and amen to this! Lord, we pray for our family and friends who still don’t know you. Please move in their lives now to desire calling on You and to believe in Your gospel message, so that they will be spared from this time of trial to come. Amen.

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” Revelation 6:1

Chapter 5 ended with the great praises of the heavenly host, worshiping the Lamb. Chapter 6 now begins with the Lamb exercising His right to open the scroll. In this, John says, “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals.”

What John is actually seeing here is debated. Is it a depiction drawn on the scroll itself so that each time a seal is broken, that is what is seen? Is it a written depiction on the scroll that can be read after the seal is broken? Is the seal broken and then a visual image appears? The text does not say and being dogmatic over this is therefore pointless. But because verse 5:1 says that the scroll was “written inside and on the back,” a logical assumption might be that John is able to read what is written there.

The point is that when the seal is broken, John understands the imagery and conveys it to us. When we read Revelation, our minds see what he has conveyed. From there, we then interpret (rightly or wrongly) what the imagery signifies. Even the heavenly scene itself is apocalyptic in nature and merely represents spiritual truths intended to convey to us things that have or will actually occur.

Understanding this, with the opening of the first seal, John next says, “and I heard one of the four living creatures saying.” This is one of the creatures first described in verse 4:6. Again, it is speculation to guess which creature is being referred to, but if it follows the order outlined in verse 4:7, then it would be the lion. As the next three identify which beast is speaking, this makes that thought much more likely. Further, it seems to be the case because John next says, “saying with a voice like thunder.”

Here, it uses the word phóné, or sound. It can be a voice, a language, or a noise. Being described like thunder would be characteristic of a lion, and only in this one verse does it say this. The next three do not give this graphic statement. From there, John relays what is said, it is “Come and see.”

Some manuscripts simply say “Come.” If so, rather than asking John to come and see, it would be a call for the rider on the horse of the coming verse to come forth. This actually seems to make more sense because in the opening of the fourth and fifth seal there is no call to “Come and see.” But if John had to come forward to see the first four writings on the scroll, he would also need to come forward to see the others as well.

Further, John is asked to come in verses 17:1 & 21:9. But the word there, deuro, is completely different than the one used here. In this verse, it is the word erchomai, “to come,” but meaning “to go.” In other words, it signifies moving from one place to another.

In this, the call to “Come” is calling forth the entity mentioned in the next verse in order to go out. We can imagine a soldier in his barracks being called by his commander, “I need you to come. The battle has been joined.” In this, the soldier comes out and goes. This appears to be the intent of what is being conveyed in the coming verses. The beasts are calling forth the executors of judgment in succession, instructing them to go and accomplish their tasks. As the four creatures reflect one of the four aspects of Christ displayed in the gospels, this meaning of “Come” (to go out) seems all the more likely.

Life application: From this point on, even until chapter 19 (with some interesting inserts along the way), the main context of the text will be a viewing of the seven years of tribulation which will come upon the whole world. This is the “seventieth week” of Daniel’s seventy weeks, just as was revealed to him in Daniel 9:24-27. This is the correct view – that the events are yet future and are centered on the people and nation of Israel. As Daniel was told –

“Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,” Daniel 9:24

Daniel was a Jew and Jerusalem is Daniel’s holy city. No other interpretation is acceptable as an evaluation of what is to be depicted. The lesser imagery can be debated over, but the overall theme of what is presented is the fulfillment of this final seven-year period.

The fact that this is future is perfectly evident from a proper study of those four verses in Daniel as they are revealed in human history and as is confirmed throughout the rest of the Bible. The Lord Jesus was born, lived as, died as, and was resurrected a Jew. He ascended from the Mount of Olives and promised to return at some future point – and His return will be to that same spot, literally and physically –

“And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:4

When He returns, it will be to His people – Israel. Only a poor interpretation of the Bible, and faulty presuppositions, will arrive at any other conclusion. From the opening of the seven seals, and through the trumpet judgments and bowl judgments, there is an immense amount of disagreement as to the timing and meaning of what is occurring.

Because these things are future, it would be inappropriate to be overly dogmatic about much of the interpretation. A careful evaluation of what will be presented is needed, but there are many things that cannot be known for certain. Like all of prophecy, it is only fully understood when it is accomplished within the stream of time. What is past is certain and what is clear is certain. That which is veiled will be fully understood only when it happens.

Of the events now beginning to be portrayed, John’s eyes will behold, and his pen will write out the details of what is coming. The world is being warned in advance. God has graciously offered us to see these future events. When they arrive, no one will be able to say that what happens isn’t what was prophesied, and none will be able to say they were not warned. The events will be clear enough that those left behind after the rapture will have choices to make.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes and our hearts to appreciate the prophecies given in Your word. As we peer into things written there, but which are yet to be fulfilled, help us to understand them properly. May our study of Your word help us to more fully appreciate that You are in complete control of the future and that nothing coming upon the world happens apart from Your will. We thank You for Your perfect plan of the ages. Amen.